Paul Rust Biography

Paul Robert Rust (born April 12, 1981) is an American actor, comedian, and writer.

Early life

Rust was born in Le Mars, Iowa, the son of Jeanne and Bob Rust. He was raised Catholic and attended Gehlen Catholic High School. His mother was a teacher at his high school, and his father owned a Western goods and boot-repair shop. He graduated from the University of Iowa in May 2004.

In an interview, Rust told Marc Maron that he struggled with obsessive-compulsive disorder in his youth.

Career

Rust is best known as a stand-up and sketch comedian at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCB) in Los Angeles. At UCB, he is currently a member of the sketch comedy groups A Kiss From Daddy and Last Day of School. He has appeared in films such as Inglourious Basterds, Ass Backwards, Freak Dance, Paper Heart and Semi-Pro. He made his most high-profile acting role in the summer of 2009, playing the male lead in the film I Love You, Beth Cooper. Rust has written for television programs such as Human Giant and Moral Orel. Rust and comedian Charlyne Yi formed the band The Glass Beef in 2006. The two appeared together in a video for "Song Away" by Hockey. He is also the lead singer and bass player in the comedy rock trio Don't Stop or We'll Die, with fellow comedians Michael Cassady and Harris Wittels.

In November 2010, Rust appeared in the Comedy Central sketch comedy special This Show Will Get You High, created by and starring Matt Besser. He and Paul Reubens co-wrote the Pee-Wee Herman film Pee-wee's Big Holiday, which was released in 2016.

Rust appears as a frequent guest on the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast, where he is best known for his "New No-Nos" segment. He has written for IFC's Comedy Bang! Bang! and also worked as a writer and story editor on the revived for Netflix fourth season of Arrested Development in 2013.

Rust stars in the Judd Apatow-produced Netflix series Love, which premiered in February 2016. Rust co-created the show with his wife Lesley Arfin.

Personal life

Rust married writer Lesley Arfin in October 2015. Rust said in one interview that Arfin fell in love with him when she learned that he had defecated (intentionally) on stage during a comedy show.

Filmography

• Exquisite Corpse (2004) - Jackson
• Drake & Josh (2006) - Ethan (1 episode)
• Cheap Seats (2006) - Canadian Violent Hugger (1 episode)
• The Right Now! Show (2007) - Cast Member
• Psycho Sleepover (2008) - Carl Sandersburg
• Semi-Pro (2008) - Wheelchair Darren
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009) - The Pie Sniffer (1 episode)
• I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009) - Denis Cooverman
• Inglourious Basterds (2009) - Andy Kagan
• The Sarah Silverman Program (2010) - Customer (1 episode)
• Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2010-2013) - Various voices (2 episodes)
• Freak Dance (2011) - Weed Fiend
• The Life & Times of Tim (2012) - Various voices (2 episodes)
• The Aquabats! Super Show! (2012) - Ronmark (1 episode)
• Best Friends Forever (2012) - Kurt McAfee (1 episode)
• Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012-2016) - Various roles, writer (9 episodes)
• Parks and Recreation (2012) - Brian Raisins (1 episode)
• NTSF:SD:SUV:: (2012) - Sid (1 episode)
• Animal Practice (2012) - Jerry (1 episode)
• Bob's Burgers (2012-2015) - Jonas / various voices (3 episodes)
• Arrested Development (2013) - Writer, story editor (season 4)
• The Greatest Event in Television History (2013) - Director (1 episode)
• iSteve (2013) - Billy Corgan
• Super Fun Night (2013-2014) - Benji (8 episodes)
• Ass Backwards (2013) - Seth
• Pee-Wee's Big Holiday (2016) - Ernie, co-writer
• Love (2016-present) - Gus Cruikshank, co-creator
• Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ (2016) - Ricky (1 episode)
• Fun Mom Dinner - Barry (2017)
• Animals. - Mason (voice) (2017)